Will TuTu Atwell Breakout for Rams in 2023?

[ROD-BOT]

View: https://youtu.be/PKIi39lXulg

 

[Neil039]

 

[den-the-coach]

Actually I like what Atwell showed last year after the Rams claimed Mayfield. Made some great catches plus showcased the ability to run multiple routes. Atwell can offer more then a deep threat and besides Jefferson and maybe Smith, Atwell offers the speed to keep the defenses honest.

I do expect a very good year for the Louisville alum, however, some will never like him.

 

[Merlin]

If he plays well everyone will like him.

 

[WestCoastRam]

It's not a shock that Atwell showed more later in the season when our play-action game had increased quite a bit. The kid will always be limited with his lack of size and agility (guy in video keeps saying he's "shifty" but Tutu is anything but, he's all straight line speed). But if we work to give him free releases and increase play-action with Stafford I do think he'll increase his utility. I don't see him ever getting 1K yards nor being an every down receiver (he's like a negative blocker) but I think we could see a few hundred more yards out of him and 3-4 more touchdowns.

It's not nothing but it's not a ton either.

 

[Londoner]

He’ll never be a three-down player, but he’s a viable deep threat and can certainly contribute this year. I’d expect him to get over 500 yards and a few touchdowns, certainly.

 

[Ram65]

IIRC JB mentioned him knowing the playbook giving Stafford more confidence in him to be in the right spot.

McVay has to get him on the field. He doesn't have to be a #2 WR. He gets open deep and short. I wouldn't be surprised if he has success on 15-20 yard outs.

He not going to be a lead blocker but, he does not shy away from blocking DB.

It's funny with the calls for TE sets but, if the O Line can protect going 3+ WR sets with Atwell test defenses.

 

[Corbin]

Agh as predicted in the playoff and draft seasons, Tutu Atwell articles written this off season “Tutu Atwell ready to step this season…”


Let the games begin and the deceived be deceived once more!

 

[HitStick]

I think he could be a solid contributor and could be more than Tavon was for us, but I don’t think he will ever be a Desean Jackson type player he was drafted to be.

 

[Kupped]

I don't know what "breakout" looks like here..

I think we could see a season with about 45 receptions with more than 800 yards.. I would consider that a success IF the offense is successful, overall.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

It all depends. Will McVay call more than one deep pass every third or fourth game?

 

[CGI_Ram]

Atwell has definitely been the better pick over Eskridge, as speculation on draft day linked the Rams to Eskridge.

I agree with previous comments he's not going to be that 1000 yard receiver, but he is a guy the other team needs a plan for.

 

[Malibu]

I like him more than most here. To me he never gets a chance to showcase. In preseason both game and practices he does great. Why pick him in the mid 2nd round of no belief. Good player being underutilized imo.

 

[snackdaddy]

The guy can't pronounce Skowronek's name right. And saying Skow is the WR2 over Jefferson? Not sure I can take him seriously.

My guess is Tutu will be the WR4 most times But if McVay uses Skow in the fullback role like last year then Tutu likely becomes the WR3. He does have good hands and can run decent enough routes. Really fast. But I do agree he's a liability as a blocker. And can be arm tackled.

If McVay doesn't want that pick to be a big whiff he's gonna have to figure out how to get him the ball in space. Tutu's not a real quick stop and start guy. But if gets a step he'll outrun just about everybody on the field. I will say he's a better receiver than Tavon Austin was. Can they find ways to maximize his speed?

 

[Memento]

Let’s hope Chatarius can break out; that just means things are going right this season!

 

[simonblaze]

I'm beginning to question if the inability to get young players/rooks more involved says more about McVay than it does about the player's ability to produce...

McVay sits these guys almost to a fault...If Benny Skow can get snaps than why in the FUCK did guys like DJax (when he was on our roster) and Atwell never even come close to sniffing the field consistently...

 

[PARAM]

I'm beginning to question if the inability to get young players/rooks more involved says more about McVay than it does about the player's ability to produce...

McVay sits these guys almost to a fault...If Benny Skow can get snaps than why in the FUCK did guys like DJax (when he was on our roster) and Atwell never even come close to sniffing the field consistently...

Because D Jax was the type of WR who gives 50% effort on plays he wasn't the first option. And if he's not targeted, his head becomes one with his ass. Has been that way for a long time.

 

[oldnotdead]

I would expect him to continue to improve. But will it be enough is the real question. If Smith shows he can return kicks as well as play as a receiver, then I think Atwell could be gone next year. As it is, I expect Puka to become the starting Y receiver this year so in many ways, it makes Atwell irrelevant and breakout season unlikely. I expect Nacua's snaps will increase through the season, limiting any contribution Atwell might have been able to achieve. IMO the decision about Atwell was made when they drafted Nacua.

Atwell's fate was determined when Powell became the return specialist. So unless Atwell can start returning kicks I don't see anything but a backup or gadget play role for him. He simply took too long to develop as a WR, there were too

many times it looked like he ran the wrong option. McVay's passing attack is complicated with WRs needing to read the DBs as well as the QB. There were times it looked like Tutu broke into coverage instead of away. Which is why IMO Stafford didn't trust throwing to him.

 

[Merlin]

I'm beginning to question if the inability to get young players/rooks more involved says more about McVay than it does about the player's ability to produce...

McVay sits these guys almost to a fault...If Benny Skow can get snaps than why in the FUCK did guys like DJax (when he was on our roster) and Atwell never even come close to sniffing the field consistently...

Because this is a tough offense to learn. It's not just the WCO with the inefficient terminology (some of these guys it's gonna be like learning conversational spanish in OTAs and camp) but also McVay probably has situational rules on top of different defensive looks where the wideouts will adjust their routes and shit and the QB will expect them to know that stuff or they're not gonna be getting the ball. Kupp probably has his own unique set of rules he operates on with all manner of adjustments for almost everything. But that stuff is gonna be a lot for a rook to pick up. I think it was too much for Robinson and he's a vet.

Basically the Rams need to be drafting smart MFers when it comes to wideouts. The types who don't need tutors, who can come in and learn the nuances so they can be effective in their first couple seasons. Using Atwell as an example the dude has crazy ability but it doesn't matter when you're not at a mastery level with the scheme.

If that's the case then maybe Atwell finally gets his head around this playbook at that level this year and we're in for some shit. Same with Jefferson, though I don't think Jefferson's issue has been all on the mental side. He's dealt with injuries too and also guys like Woody in front of him for some of his time so far. Either way we may be looking at a window now where both those guys arrive big time. That's my hope at least. I do have a feeling that Jefferson is gonna kill it. So we'll see, I am hopeful.

 

[Loyal]

Actually I like what Atwell showed last year after the Rams claimed Mayfield. Made some great catches plus showcased the ability to run multiple routes. Atwell can offer more then a deep threat and besides Jefferson and maybe Smith, Atwell offers the speed to keep the defenses honest.

I do expect a very good year for the Louisville alum, however, some will never like him.

I think if he just concentrates on running crisp routes and not cross training for the Oline, we may get somewhere.... ~ @Merlin